Flying-machine.



a. F; MYERS. FLYING nomma.

APPLICATION FILED 11H31, 190g. I I 1 995,550. I Patented June 20,1911.

6 SERBIE-SHEET 1.

G. P. MYERS. FLYING MACHINE. APPLIUATION PILD KAY 31, 1904.

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, 995,550. Batened Junezo, 1911.

'WITNESSES G. P. MYERS.

PLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION I' ILE!) KAY 31, 1804.

Patented Jn@ 2o, 1.911.

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wFLYING MACHINE.

Patented June 20, 1911.

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Pntea June 20 G. P. MYERS.

FLYING MACHINE.`

ArrLmATIon FILED KAY 31, 1004.

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` APPLIOATIDI FILED HAI 31, 1904.`

Patntd June 20, 1911.

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l Il ywrruesss INVENTOR UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.,

GEORGE `FRANCHE MYERS, Ol' COLUltIBUS, OHIO'.

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Continuation of application Serial No. 621,233, led January 29, 1897. This application Serial No. 210,486.

Ipeoieation ot Letters Patent. Patented Junel 20, 1911i,

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To all whom it may concern: Y

ABe it known that- I, GEORGE FRANCIS MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a speclfication.

My invention relates to flying machines and has, besides other objects, the providing of an inherently stable aeroplane. Ah aeroplane made annular in 'shape or conformation, that is having an outer rim or pe riphery and an inner rim or periphery, will have besides the front portion of its outer periphery, an additional advancing edge for support 1n the rear portion of its lnner peri hery. A Iwindgust striking the forward e ge of the advancin outer' periphery of the aeroplane would tip fupthe front portion of the aeroplane, but "strikin the rear portion of the inner periphery a most immediately afterward 1t would lift up the rear ortion of the aeroplane and thus reestabiish the equilibrium. If the windgust strikes the aeroplane from the side it finds another point of attack directly o posite. No matter from what point the win strikes the surface it will find a following plane diametrically opposite to readju'st the equipoise, makin' the aeroplane automatically and inherent y stable. This application, in part, is a continuation of an abandoned application led by myself January 29, 1897, and serially -numbered 621,233.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a flying machine, embodying my invention; Fig. 2Arepresents a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3- represents a cross section-of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 represents a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 5 represents a plan view of the machlne; Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the lower art of the machine showing the inside ofp the car; Fig. 7 is a transverse cross section of Fig. 6 taken along the line E-F and Figs. 8-11 represent enlarged views o details.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts through the several views.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noticed that the framework of the aeroplane comprises essentially a series of annular planes 4 and 6 arranged one below the other and of successively lessening diameters. These planes 4 and 6'are' held apart by the two main braces 2 'and 3 which are at right angles to each other, and to the planes 4 an 6; all of said planes 4 and 6, and the braces 2 and 3 presenting their edges ,to the air while movin forward. Other vertical braces 5 also hol the planes 4 and 6 in .po-Y sition. The members 2, 3, 4 and 6 are preferably made in the form of lattice girders, the open braced framework of 2 and 3 being covered like the planes 4 and 6 and thus forming keels or vertical planes to aid in giving stability. Immediately below the annular aeroplanes 4 is` the aeroplane 29, shaped like the zone of a sphere with a like zone shaped domeor top 30 directly above the same. Below the aeroplane 29 is the car l which may be inelosed as shown.

The screws on propellers-7 are driven by means of ropes 16 running over sheaves 15 driven Yby means of suitable gearin 14 by the engine 12 supplied ywith power rom the boiler 9. The boiler 9 is preferably run on wheels 10 overa track 11 in the car 1, by means of which the center Iof ravity of themachine may be chan ed ang the aeroplanes 4, 6 and 29 tippe to the angle desired, allowingl the machine to rise or fall when in motion throu h the air. Suitable levers 13 may be use to throw either of the screws out of action, making it possible to turn to the right or left.

An auxiliary plane 18 lies u on the top of the plane' 6, as more particu arly shown in Fig. 10. The forward edge of said plane 18 is fastened to a ro e 19, which travels over a pulley 20 on a sliaft 21 at the end of the out-rigger 22. By pulling on the ro 19, which runs down to the car 1, the said plane 18 may edge of the main plane 6 into the dotted position 23 (see Figs. 5 and 10). The plane 18 when drawn into said position 23 will catch any ascending air current and be lifted up to the positlon 26 drawing u any extra planes, as 33, (shown in dottedpposl'- tion at 27) with it, by means of the cords 32, 33 being flexible like a parachute.

A section of the lanes 4 and 6,and the braces 2 and 3 is sliown in 8 and 9. It comprises a pair of parallel tubes 24 with a plurality of braces 25, intersecting and fastened together at 31 as more particularly shown in Flg. 11.

. mg impinged by t It will be noticed that the two screw propellers 7 are placed on either side of the car 1, and that their shafts 8 are situated between-the top und bottom of said car; and that 4the plane in which the axes of both of said shafts lie, intersects the said car 1, between the top and bottom thereof.

I do not limit myself to the exact description as shown, for I may vary many details without departing from the spirit of the invention. I may use two engmes instead of one and connect the ropellers directly thereto, :and ma make t e engines of the well known gaso ene type. The construction of the frame of the annular aeroplanes is not limited to tubing construction as shown, nor do I limit myself to the peripheral conformation, nor to the size of the inner and outer peri heries of said frame, nor to the number o aero lanes employed, nor to the shape of the under surface thereof, nor to the manner or material of the covering therefor, I may employ any known means of starting from the ground; and I desire that the term car be interpreted to mean any suitable place for. the operator or motor, whether ysaid car be openor closed, although I prefer the'closedcar as it cuts down the headresistance of the machine.

1. A ilying machine comprising an aero-4 plane having a Afree periphery capable of bee air and having an opening within its periphery whichis practically unobstructed and whereby an annular lifting surface is formed on the aeroplane, a, car connected with said aeroplane so as to be immovable relatively thereto, and a propeller mounted on the car and constructed to move the same and the parts connected therewith horizontally.

2. A flying machine comprising a plurality of annular aeroplanes arranged one above the other.

3. A flying machine comprising a plurality of superposed annular aeroplanes of progressively varying diameters.

4. A flying machine comprising a plurality of annular aeroplanes arranged one above the vother and another series o brace planes arran ed at right angles to said aeroplanes.

5. flying machine comprising a plurality of annular aeroplanes arranged one above the other and a series ,of vertical" braces extending from a common center.

6. A ying machine comprising two aeroplanes' one d1spos'ed above the other, `each of said aeroplanes having a central opening therein.

7. A flying machine comprising a plurality of yannular aeroplanes arrange one above the other and a propeller for driving the machine forward. 8. A llying machine comprising a plurality of superposed annular aeroplanes and a series of braces placed at right angles thereto and connectmg said planes, said braces presenting their narrowside to the direction of motion.

9. A flying machine comprising a main plane, and an auxiliary lane releasably attached. to said main p ane and normally lying substantially of-the main planel 10. A 'lyipg machine comprising a main plane, an auxiliary plane releasabl attached to said main plane and normally ying substantially flat adjacent to the top of the main plane, and means for allowing said auxilia planeto rise from said main plane under air pressure. 11. A flying machine comprising an aerolane, a plurality of auxiliary" surfaces reeasably attached to thel top of the said aeroplane, and means for releasing the said auxiliary surfaces.

GEORGE FRANCIS MYERS. In the .resence o- S. MILLER, J. MARTIN.

flat adjacent to the top 

